Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

Power banks have become an essential travel companion, but starting April 1, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot will ban their use and charging in-flight, citing safety concerns. This decision follows a series of incidents involving overheating lithium batteries, including a Scoot flight fire in Taiwan and a Batik Air cabin smoke incident. With airlines like Thai Airways, AirAsia, and South Korean carriers implementing similar restrictions, this raises pressing questions. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Associate Professor Palani Balaya, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, NUS,  to help understand the risks associated with power banks, the reasoning behind this ban, and what it means for air travel moving forward.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) and Hongbin Jeong Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Singapore shares hovered above the flatline today as investors continue to digest the outlook for the US economy.  The Straits Times Index nudged 0.02% higher to 3,833.84 points at about 2.20pm (2.19pm), with a value turnover of S$1.06B in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have City Developments Ltd. after the property giant’s executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng said in a statement last night that he will be discontinuing his lawsuit against his son Sherman Kwek and six other members of the CDL board.  Elsewhere, from US consumer prices increasing less than expected in February to what Trump’s US$1.4 trillion tariff threat means for companies – more international headlines remain in focus.  On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Chow, Director, Azure Capital.

If you’re an older or senior worker, you might be wondering what options there are to continue your career journey. That’s because many older workers find it difficult to get work. Kai Ning Lim is the co-founder of The Courage Chapter is looking to change that perspective. The Courage Chapter is a pioneering platform that’s reshaping how we think about senior professionals in the workforce. So how is The Courage Chapter changing the future of work for the better? On Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Kai Ning Lim, Co-founder at The Courage Chapter, to find out why this is the right business.    Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Nadiah Koh (nadkoh@sph.com.sg)  Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

What should you be looking out for in a stock market rotation? Are we currently in one? And should this rotation continue, headline returns could become negative, at least in the short term. How should investors respond? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to J. Aston, Jr, Portfolio Manager and Managing Director at Neuberger Berman, to find out more. 

The Lion City Sailors' dream run in the ACL Two continues, as they defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-1 on aggregate to book a spot in the last four. This is only the third time a team from Singapore have reached the semi-finals of a continental competition. So how did the Sailors, the only South-east Asian outfit left in Asia’s second-tier club competition, defy the odds to overcome their illustrious opponents? Deepanraj Ganesan speaks to Sports Minutes after a historic night at the Jalan Besar Stadium. READ MORE:  https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/lion-city-sailors-eliminate-japanese-side-sanfrecce-hiroshima-to-seal-acl-two-semi-final-berth Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

US President Donald Trump has nominated entrepreneur Anji Sinha to serve as the new United States Ambassador to Singapore. Yet, Dr Sinha is relatively little known, with no presence on websites or social media platforms. This appointment is still subject to confirmation by the Senate. So, who exactly is Dr Sinha? Why did Trump choose Sinha as his ambassador? And how will the Senate confirmation process play out given that there are other high-profile nominees awaiting approval? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Kevin Chen, Associate Research Fellow with the US Programme at IDSS, RSIS to find out more.    Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Nadiah Koh (nadkoh@sph.com.sg) and Hongbin Jeong  Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Singapore shares were higher in the afternoon after starting the day lower.  The Straits Times Index was up 0.46% at 3,843.41 points at about 2.18pm, with a value turnover of S$1.04B in the broader market.  In terms of companies to watch, we have GuocoLand, after the property developer secured S$367.1 million in green financing from DBS to develop a residential site in Faber Walk.  Elsewhere, from the impact of sweeping 25 per cent levies on all US aluminium and steel imports on regional markets, to how OpenAI launched new tools for developers to help them build advanced AI agents – more international and corporate headlines in focus. Plus – we’ll also talk about where you can go in Asia to stretch your Singdollar furthest. On Market View, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with James Cheo, Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia and India at HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth.

Did you know that amongst the NINE teams competing in the Singapore Women’s Premier League - there is ONLY ONE that does not have an active men’s team. And that team is Still Aerion Women’s Football Club. Dedicated to female footballers - the club have a roster that includes players who’ve featured in the Women’s World Cup, stars of the Singapore Lionesses past and present, and at the helm have a former S-league winner in Jeremy Chiang. So with all the ingredients in place, can they cook up a storm in 2025? Sports Minutes sits down with head coach Jeremy and new signing Lila Tan to find out. Got a story to tell? Get in touch! raushan@sph.com.sg

Bitcoin fell to start off the week as volatility in the price of the world’s largest cryptocurrency continues. That's after an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to create a strategic bitcoin reserve for the United States was seen as a disappointment to many crypto investors, who wanted more detail.  So should you still stay heavily invested in crypto? Could crypto rally on a clearer agenda from Trump? On Wealth Tracker, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Ornella Hernandez, Presenter, Moniify Playbook, to find out more.

Automa8e Technologies is revolutionizing accounting with AI-driven automation, streamlining bookkeeping, tax filing, and financial reporting. By eliminating manual inefficiencies, Automa8e enhances accuracy, compliance, and real-time decision-making. With Tier 3 ASR+ accreditation from IRAS, the company is setting new standards in financial automation and expanding across Asia to drive the future of intelligent accounting solutions. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Vidushan Premathiratne, Chief Growth Officer, Automa8e Technologies, to find out more.   Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!